Beyond The Fourth Wall

A Story by Exen Essimo

A twist on adventure story's Our Hero goes on a great quest learning about he world he lives in and beyond it.

Beyond the 4th Wall

By Nick Lambert

This is our hero. Strong and brave he fights for what's right.

"Who the hell is that?" said our hero. He's yet to understand that he is part of our story-

"Who are you? Where are you hiding? Get out of my house!" Why I am the narrator of the story. And I'm not hiding in your house. I mean, well, I am but I'm everywhere as well but-

"Ok this isn't funny anymore what's going on?"

As I was saying, our hero is preparing to go on a great quest of discovery.

"I'm eating breakfast. You know what I'll just call you a fairy and move on with it." As our hero begins to come to terms with the narrator, he questions what is this great quest he is about to embark on.

"Is this where I'm supposed to ask what my destiny is or something?" Asked our hero, and yes this is when you begin to question your destiny.

"Ok could you please stop narrating my speaking I know when I'm speaking" demanded our hero- "You did it again!" If I don't say when you're speaking and how you said it how is the reader supposed to understand what's going on?

"What reader?" Our hero was curious but he will find answers to his questions soon enough. "Why can't you tell me?" Said as our hero walked outside to his porch. "I'm still eating I'm not walking to my porch." He groaned as he began walking out to his porch "you know what fine I'll go on the porch but I'm bringing my breakfast." Out on the porch he found a sword and shied with a note he read the note. "I guess I'll read the note..... To our hero. From plot continuity." Our hero read out loud. "Who is plot continuity?" You don't have to know what it is all you need to know is to not mess with it. "I'll take your word for it."

He put down his breakfast and armed the sword and shield. "Ok so I have this sword and shield now what am I supposed to do with it?" Our hero would soon find out what his quest is but before that he had to go to the village to find the wise old man.

"I really have to walk all the way to the village it's like half way across the valley." Our hero complained as he reluctantly began to walk down the path toward the village.

"I'm not really being given a choice am I?"

No you're not being given a choice, now could you get moving we need to move the story along.

He neared the village not to long after he began his trek. "What do you mean not so long after he began? It's been an hour!" If our hero could stop correcting the narrator it would add to the illusion of time and struggle.

"You got the struggle part right. Also you know you didn't have to commentate the entire time I was waking here, I know how I walk and I know what the scenery looks like" our hero retorted with an annoyed tone. And if our hero thinks the traveling commentary was to boring the writer could always take it out.

"No that's not what I was thinking. And who the hell is this writer you keep talking about" the hero would soon find out his quest when he arrived at the old man’s house.

"Way to dodge the question. And how am i supposed to find the wise old man’s house?" Our hero questioned as he walked into the village where he noticed the old man’s house on the hill.

"I was on the hill before why didn't you tell me before! Now I have to walk back up there." The hero said as he realized the wise old man’s house was actually right in front of him.

"Really? Is it going to be like this the whole time?" Wondered our hero thinking he could not have been told which house the old mans was making him search every building for the wise old man.

"Fair enough, I have to keep your story moving along don't I?" He said sarcastically.

He moved up and knocked on the door after a long moment the door opened and behind it was a wise old man

"Can it be?" said the wise old man

"It is, it is the narrator"

"You know the narrator?" Said our hero.

"yes I know the narrator, the narrator lead me on a quest long ago. I thought I would never have to deal with the narrator again" said the wise old man as if he didn't enjoy the presence of the narrator. "Because I didn't negotiate the presence of the narrator" he lied.

"Is this what I'm going to have to deal with the whole time?"

"If he asked you to go on a great quest, than yes he will be following you the whole time"

"Am I supposed to ask you what the great quest is?"

"I would assume so if the narrator hasn't told you already"

Our hero asked the wise old man what the great quest he has to embark on is.

"Would you please let me say things without telling me what to say."

"That will happen a lot. Any way I assume you have been brought here to discover what lays beyond the fourth wall."

"The fourth wall?"

"Yes the ancients built four walls surrounding the kingdom. No one knows what lays beyond the fourth wall."

"Did you take on this quest once ?"

"Yes long ago when I was young like you the narrator made me go see a wise old man who told me to find out what lies beyond the fourth wall"

"Sounds familiar, I wonder why."

Before they parted ways the wise old man asked our hero what his name was

Our hero began to talk before the wise old man could. "You don't even need to ask my name's ummmmm. Uh, how could I forget my own name?" He was so confused even though he knew the answer. "I really don't know the answer" he proclaimed. Our hero remembered that his name was Our Hero. "You've got to be kidding me?" He acted as if it was a joke.

The wise old man spoke up "No this isn't a joke the narrator did this to me as we'll. I was called The Hero and now I'm the Wise old man. I don't remember my name before the quest."

Our Hero responded quickly "So my name from now on is Our hero?" And it was true his name was and will be until the writer decides to change it. "Who's the writer!?"

The wise old man let out a laugh and continued to do so as he spoke. "I almost forgot about the writer"

"Seriously who's this writer and how is he connected to the reader?"

"You'll find out soon enough" whispered the wise old man. There was a long pause before the wise old man spoke again. "I see your shield has an S on it."

Our Hero looked puzzled. "Why is there a random S on it?"

The wise old man laughed. "where I'm from S is a symbol for hope."

"Doesn't hope start with an H?"

The wise old man laughed again. "Yes it does, but in life you must think with an open mind."

"You make no sense what so ever." It was time for Our Hero to leave.

"But-"

The wise old man interrupted him. "You herd the narrator now run along."

"Thanks for everything" Our Hero left the house and he had no back talk toward the narrator for once.

As Our Hero walked out the door the wise old man had one last piece of advice "make sure to listen to the narrator"

Our Hero gave a nod and walked back out into the village.

Not so long after he began to hear his stomach grumble. "That's because I never finished eating my breakfast" but that's what happens when you choose the life of an adventurer. "I didn't choose the adventures life the adventures life choose me" he whispered to himself knowing he did choose this life.

As Our Hero was walking along the path that leads to the first wall he saw a stump along the side of the path with something on it as he neared closer he noticed it was a sandwich that was resting on the stump.

"Sweet I can eat!" Shouted Our Hero, and as he put the sandwich up to his lips he was startled by a dog bark coming from not to far from behind him.

"What dog bark?"

"Woof!"

"Oh sweet heavens! I really should listen to the narrator more often." Our Hero said still catching his breath. He noticed the dog looked very malnourished and out of the kindness of his heart he gave the sandwich to the dog. "Why can't we split it" asked Our Hero forgetting that it was part of the plot to give the dog the sandwich. "What if I want to eat the sandwich and not follow the plot?" The dog sat about a foot away from him whimpering with his tongue keeping his eyes in the sandwich. "You know what you win I'll give the dog the sandwich"

Our Hero followed the plot continuity and fed the dog the sandwich.

The dog ate the sandwich and wrapped himself around Our Hero's legs. Our Hero's companion made quick friends with Our Hero.

"I guess this is my dog now. What type of dog even is this?" Asked Our Hero, but the dog is whatever type of dog the reader wants it to be. "I'm not even going to ask about the reader again. But before we start going you need name." It was weird he said this because the dog was already named Our Hero's companion.

"No he's not being called that!" He announced, but that would break the plot continuity wouldn't it? "Yes it would I'm calling him Exen and that's final!" It was an odd name for a dog who already had a name which is what he will be referred to as. "Do what you want I'm calling him Exen, now aren't I supposed to be moving along or something"

He was right Our Hero and Our Hero's companion continued toward the first wall together.

The first wall came into view.

"Thanks for saying that. Like I didn't notice the giant wall stretching the horizon" his sarcasm was unappreciated because how else would the reader know Our Hero was approaching the first wall?

"They could figure it out, oh and by the way you're welcome for describing the scene" Our Hero should really stop antagonizing the narrator and focus on the first test in his quest. (See what I did there) "Yes haha your very funny know what is supposed to happen here?" Asked Our Hero before he approached the guard watching the gate.

"Who goes there!?" Shouted the guard.

"I am Our Hero" he yelled still quite far from the gate.

"What kind of name is that" the guard responded trying not to laugh. "Woah what is that." He was surprised by the presence of the narrator.

Our Hero with a sympathetic tone groaned "don't worry it's just a fairy"

The guard lowered his guard and with a smile said "oh you kids and you magic these days, sorry about that, is there anything I could help you with"

"Yes I'd like to get through the first wall"

"I can do that for you son but just be aware beyond this wall lies some creatures that can do harm to you"

"Some?"

"Yeah we're told to warn travelers but I don't know what it's like over there."

"Alright good to know." The guard opened the gate. The opening mechanism rattled

The guard motioned them through the entrance with some final words. "I guess your fairy likes to point out the obvious. Anyway good luck."

As Our Hero walked beyond the first wall he turned back to say "yeah, thanks." On the back of the wall over the gate there was an engraving in the wall saying (He who does not understand thinks with a closed mind) Our Hero didn't understand what it meant and walked on.

About halfway to the second wall the path was along a stream, and sense Our Hero and Our Hero's companion were parched they decided it would be a good time to get some water.

"But I'm not thirty I'm hungry, I don't want to get a drink, I want something to eat. " Our Hero said fully knowing he wants to get a drink of water.

"No I don't want to get a drink of water."

Our Hero stood next to the stream as if to get a drink of water but he only stood there talking to himself.

"You know what fine if I drink some water can we move on" and with that Our Hero and Our Hero's companion actually walked up to the stream and drank some of the water.

Little did Our Hero know the water was poisoned! How foolish of him to drink the water.

"Really! You make me drink the water then you tell me it's poisoned after!"

Our Hero's companion dropped first lying to the ground while Our Hero was on his knees struggling to remain conscious. Our Hero let out the only words he could muster in this moment "Exen, we'll be fine; I know we'll be fine. They wouldn't want the story to end now would they?" And he was right although he closed his eyes there by the stream next to his companion this isn't the end of the story.

Our Hero woke up with his companion licking his face. It made him smile knowing he had just dodged death after his own folly. The joy was short lived though when three bandits were coming toward Our Hero.

Wait this isn't part of the story! Our Hero quick get up and armed they're trying to ruin the story!

"What are bandits doing out here!?"

It's the editors, peers and critics! You can't let them defeat you.

"I know that, I'd like to live through this." The three bandits stood some 12.384 meters from Out Hero.

"This story is over!" Yelled the bandits. They remained there and stood with an intimidating stance.

Our hero responded not to the bandits but to himself "you gave me this sword and shield I don't know how to use it!" And as he said that he remembered his years of training.

"What years of training? I've never used a sword and shield in my life!" If Our Hero would just remembered that he could use the sword and shield with proficiency it would help.

"Fine I'll try that" Our Hero whispered as he swung the sword as if he had used it many times before.

The three bandits marched forward while saying stereo typical derogatory statements like "This story sucks!" "The plot made no sense!" And "The writer put no effort in to it!" They should have known better than to insult the writer.

Our Hero let out at almost a cry "can the writer help me!" While Our Hero just stood there as our Hero's companion charged the oncoming bandits. He wouldn't let his companion go into combat alone would he. "How did I get put in this mess?"

Our Hero was now charging head long toward the bandits close behind his companion.

Our Hero's companion leaped onto the first of the bandits. The bandit was brought to the ground quickly. His last moaning words were "but their are grammatical errors."

The other two stood face to face with Our Hero,they swung their weapons at nearly identical times. Our Hero was able to block the blows with his shield but the force of the impact knocked him to the ground. While Our Hero's companion was still dealing with his foe and unable to help Our Hero.

He sprung back to his feet dodging swing after swing, but the attacks came so quick he was unable to attempt a counter.

And just when he appeared beaten he spotted their weakness.

"If you could tell me what it is that would be great" said Our Hero dogging another potential blow. Ah yes, Our Hero noticed their weakness was obsession over mistakes. He thought if he could make a minor mistake that wouldn't result in his demise he could distract them long enough for him to finish them.

Our Hero whispered under his breath "Good to know." He then stumbled over his feet and tumbled to the ground theatrically

The bandits dropped their form and began criticizing his theatrics

"Really? Like really you can't even keep your footing wow. What kind of fighter trips in the middle of a fight scene? How anti cli-" before they could even finish Our Hero sprung up with a skillful strike to send his foes to the ground slumped and silenced.

Our Hero sat to recuperate his breath and strength.

Our Hero's companion trotted away from the body he had mangled and into the lap of Our Hero. He patted his head and with joy in his voice panted "good work Exen, I knew there was a reason I liked you."

There's no convincing Our Hero his name is Our Hero's companion is there?

"Nope"

The second wall was now in sight of the duo.

"You should mention it's twice the size of the last one" Our Hero interrupted. You know if you let me finish what I'm saying sometimes I would point certain things out. As I was saying, Our Hero and his companion came up to the gate of the second wall to find that there was no guard watching the gate.

"How am I supposed to pass then?" If only Our Hero knew he could figure out how to open the gate.

"The guard was right you do like to point out the obvious"

The gate was locked by a sophisticated mechanism, there were multiple switches and buttons on the side of the gate, Our Hero could figure out the right order in which to pull the levers and push the buttons the gate will open.

"Am I supposed to just guess?" He pulled a lever and nothing happened. "Wrong lever"

While Our Hero was struggling with the gate Our Hero's companion was sniffing along a part if the wall. He sat down and began to bark at it.

Our Hero noticed and shouted over "you found something Exen?" He walked over to where Our Hero's companion was sitting. Our Hero began pressing the stones in front of where his companion sat down.

And one of the stones pressed in to reveal a message and he read it out loud. "Great Hero's push forward and pull themselves up no matter how down they are." Our Hero stepped back and thought about the message.

"So I have to push a button than turn the leaver up than down to open the gate." That was correct but he knew he needed more information.

"How am I supposed to figure out which buttons to push and what lever to use?"

If only there was another hidden message for Our Hero to find.

"Why can't Exen just find it like the first one?" Our Hero's companion became distracted by a flower caught in the breeze and was unable to help Our Hero.

"Why can't anything be simple for once" asked our hero knowing an easy task leads to a boring story. "Could you give me a hint at least?" Why can't Our solve his own problems for once?

"You know what I'll do this one all by myself you don't need to say anything I'll do it all myself."

So our hero is going to narrate this section all by himself?

"Yeah, don't worry I got this."

I'm more concerned about the reader than you.

"You've got nothing to worry about, see watch this. Our Hero searched the walls for more clues. Uh, after a moment of searching he could find nothing that would help him."

That wasn't half bad. How about this, Our Hero couldn't find any clues one the wall so he began to search the ground near the gate.

"See I knew you would help me."

Out Hero walked over to the entrance of the gate and began searching the ground for anything that might help him open the gate.

"Is there anything specific I should be looking for?" Asked Our Hero, but no one knew what he should be looking for.

"So you mean to tell me you don't even know what I should be looking for?"

Yeah that's about right.

Our Hero was puzzled but he continued to search.

"Why doesn't our narrator inform Our Hero he has great problem solving skills?" Why can't Our Hero refer things by the right name?

"Sorry. Why doesn't THE NARRATOR! Inform Our Hero he has great problem solving skills?" That's what I thought, Our Hero remembered his great ability to solve problems, puzzles and come up with clever remarks.

"Why clever remarks?" Pondered Our Hero knowing he would thank the narrator later.

"Remind me when that happens, but first." Our Hero examined the area near the gate and discovered nothing. But as he glanced over at Our Hero's companion he noticed what was drifting in the wind was a butterfly not a flower.

He ran over and caught the butterfly in his hands and examined it. The pattern on the butterfly consisted of three bars and three dots. Much like how the gate had three levers and three buttons. The middle dot and the top bar were colored differently than the rest.

After Our Hero noticed this he let out a sigh and whispered. "Why not give it a try."

Our Hero walked over and pushed the middle button and pulled the top lever up and down.

It took a moment for the gate to open but when it did Our Hero let out a laugh and joyed "didn't think it would actually work."

As he walked through the gate he read the message on the back of the wall and it read.

"I think there for I am"

The Third wall hadn't even come into view when he was forced into another conflict.

"What is it this time?" Our Hero blurted in a sarcastic tone.

"Why can't I move?" Our Hero and his companion became frozen in place and the world seemed still.

"What's going on!" Nervousness as well as fear could be sensed in his voice.

"Could you please tell me what is going on!?"

Our Hero! The writer has been struck with writers block! You need to do something or the story will end here!

"How am I supposed to fix this? I don't even know who the writer is!" Our Hero seemingly forgot everything he remembered in the last scene.

"What when you gave the problem diving skills?"

No the other thing!

"Clever remarks!?"

Yes! Say something clever to spark the writers mind!

"Uh uh, The writer sought inner inspiration to continue the story" Our Hero's words were uttered in vain as the environment around him began to disappear into dust. Our Hero's companion began to panic whimper and howl. It's obvious it didn't work could you please try something else now!

"Um, the writer sought inspiration in our hero and don't want to leave his story incomplete!" Shouted Our Hero with a trace of tremble in his tone. The landscape continued to deteriorate around his still body. For someone who has clever statement skills this isn't working to well at all.

"You're the one who gave me the skills! Do you have any bright ideas?" You're Our Hero you're the one who's supposed to save the day not the narrator.

"We'll if we don't come up with something fast we'll both be goners." All that was left was Our Hero, his companion and the immediate ground around them.

"I got it! The writer thought of a cool fighting sequence with a dragon in the next scene!" Shouted Our Hero at the top of his lungs.

The environment around them began to come back in a great scene rebuilding to the way it was. Slowly Our Hero and his companion regained the ability to move again. It seems Our Hero has inspired the writer to keep the story going. But why would he create such a great enemy for himself?

The third wall was three times as big as the first wall making it an awe of a sight. But something was different about this wall. In top of the gate stood a spire reaching even higher into the sky.

"What's in the tower? There hasn't been one before." Questioned Our Hero. He would find out what the tower holds after he defeats the enemy's that lye defending it.

"Enemy's? As in plural enemy's? As in theres more than one?"

Yes there are the towers guards and the dragon you had suggested earlier

"Oh I really didn't think that through did I." It was your idea wasn't it?

"I panicked ok."

Well you want to hear the bad news?

"Enlighten me."

A tremendous roar came from behind the wall shaking the ground and striking fear into Our Hero. Even our Hero's companion grew fearful.

"Oh this isn't going to be fun."

Over the wall peered the head of a great dragon. It roared again and shook the ground even harder.

The dragon began to take flight. The force of its wings created great winds kicking up dust and forcing Our Hero to brace. His companion griping to the ground with great might.

The dragon flew high above circling in the air above Our Hero. As if he were honing in on his prey.

"That's real assuring thanks." Quivered Our Hero.

The dragon dived down directly toward Our Hero. The dive was steep making it gain incredible speed.

It pulled out of its dive only a few feet of the ground. The power of the gust was enough to knock Our Hero to the ground and cause him to slide even further.

The Dragon tried to grasp Our Hero with his talons but he was able to block the challenges with his shield, while he was still on the ground the dragon tried again but this time Our Hero was able to roll out of the way and onto his feet.

Before he could even reorientation himself the dragon had swung his tail around and landed a direct hit on Our Hero causing him to be swept off the ground and flung back an even greater distance than before.

Lying on his back Our Hero was in visible pain. Looking up at the sky he thought to himself how could he ever defeat such a foe?

Our Hero's companion ran over to Our Hero as quick as he could and began to lick his face.

"I got an idea Exen but you're going to have to trust me." Our Hero's companion sat still continuing to pant.

"I'm going to need you to distract the dragon, can you do that?" Our Hero's companion let out a bark and ran off.

Our Hero slowly rose to his feet with ache in his stance.

The dragon began chasing after Our Hero's companion but didn't take flight. Our broke into a sprint after the dragon to catch it.

He came closer and closer behind its tail reaching for it. Stretching as far as he could to grasp it. He reached further and further with each stride until he gained hold. As soon as he had a firm hand on its tail he lost his footing and was being dragged behind the dragon. He mustered as much strength as he could to pull himself up. Hand over hand until his full body was on. When he reached its torso he tried to stand but couldn't keep his balance so he only rise to his knees and thrusted his sword as hard as he could into the dragons spine.

A high pitches screech and from the dragoon piercing Our Hero's ear with such trauma he lost his grip on the sword and fell to the ground. Covering his ears and rolling in agony the dragon fell next to him and let out one last groan before life left its body.

Our Hero laid on the ground in exhaustion, when he looked over he saw his companion doing the same.

A few minutes had past and both Our Hero and his companion continued to rest when another feint roar could be heard in the distance.

Our Hero groaned "please don't tell me what I think that is." And it was, another dragon had peered its self over the wall and spotted Our Hero.

"Why are there two of them!?" Proclaimed Our Hero. He had to come to the realization that there was already supposed to be a dragon in this scene but in his courageousness he brought on a second one to fight him.

"You've got to be kidding me" but this wasn't a joke

The dragon lifted itself over the wall and let out a massive ball of fire when it exhaled.

"It breathes fire!"

Yes it does, this is a plot twist dragon it can do things normal dragons can't.

"Is there anything else you want to warn me about?"

We'll have to find out

"Great" Our Hero walked up the body of the dead dragon and pulled his sword from its back.

Like the last one it flew high into the air and began to circle above. But something was different about the appearance of this one.

Our Hero could notice that not only was it larger than the last one but the scales covering it appeared thicker as well.

"I suppose my tactics from the last bout won't work this time will they?" Our Hero continued to think, how could he even get close to it. If he has his companion distract him the dragon would fry him in no time.

A moment of realization stuck Our Hero and it was visible his face.

"What did you say was defending the tower other than the dragon?"

There are scores of guards in the spire waiting for you.

"Good I hope they're looking for a fight."

Our Hero dashed for the door in the wall with his companion instep with him. Trailing them was the plot twist dragon gaining on them quickly. This time fire didn't come from its mouth but ice freezing all life it touched.

"Run come on!" Shouted Our Hero as he dived toward the door with an icy death not to far behind them.

Inside the doorway it was quite. Ice froze the ground just outside of it and the dragons roars echoed in and through the walls.

The feint sounds of men talking could be heard above.

Our Hero let out a deep breath and yelled. "There's an intruder at the gate!"

The sound of men chattering was replaced with sound of metal cloaking and running.

"Let's hope this works" Out Hero ran out the door and into a ditch alongside the door. A few seconds later a stream of guards came rushing out into the area by the wall searching for the 'intruder' or the guard who raised the alarm. All they could find was an angry plot twist dragon looking for something to fight. Luckily the guards were up for it

One of the guards shouted to the rest "it's trying to destroy the wall!" The guards rushed forward to challenge the dragon and we're meeting stiff resistance.

"This is my chance" Our Hero left the ditch and rushed the door. Once he was back inside everything was quiet. It seemed all the guards came out to meet the threat.

He began running up the stairs.

"There's a lot of stairs can't we just skip to the part where I reach the top?" Does Our Hero really want to suck the enjoyment out of this?

"Yes he does." Well that's too bad for Our Hero.

He peered out a window and saw the guards were still occupied with fighting the dragon. He continued to run up the stairs and after some time he reached the top and there was a door to a room. The door was locked so he tried knocking on the door. There was no response. So he backs up and lowered his shoulder into the door. It didn't budge. So he backed up and put even more power into his effort. This time the door busted open. What he found in the room was something he was not expecting.

There in the back corner of the room sat a beautiful woman.

They stared at each other for a long moment in silence.

The silence was broken when the beautiful woman asked "who are you?"

He was slow to respond "I-I'm Our Hero"

"Who's that talking?" The beautiful woman was frightened by the narrator’s presence. "That, who-who is that?"

"Oh, that's the narrator. Um you can say it’s kind of a fairy."

"Great, a guy named Our Hero with a dog and a fairy who points out the obvious have come to rescue me!" Only a fool could miss the sarcasm in her voice.

Our Hero paused before he responded "rescue you?"

That statement made the beautiful woman's jaw drop.

"Why yes rescue me! Isn't that what you came all this way for!?"

Our Hero looking down at the ground and responded.

"Not exactly. No-" he was cut off.

"Don't you have any idea who I am?"

"I'm-I'm sorry no" it was a shy response from Our Hero.

"I'm the Beautiful princes of the kingdom, daughter of the king and queen."

"May I ask you what your name is?"

"Of course! My name is, my name is..." She couldn't seem to find the words "how could I forget my own name!?"

Our Hero chimed in "Um, narrator can you help her out."

Yes, I can, she remembered her name was princess.

She was quick to respond "princess is just a title not my name." She tried and tried but the only thing that could come to her head was princess.

Princes in a quiet voice whispered "this is beside the point."

Our Hero looked back at Princes "well you said something about saving you, care to elaborate?"

"Yes, years ago I was put here by my parents to wait for a prince who could rescue me. But you look hardly the part."

"Well what does the damsel in distress wish to do? Does she stay here and wait. Our does she leave with Our Hero?"

"If you were enough of a man you'd make me leave with you!"

"I'm currently more worried about fighting a dragon than your decision to be honest."

"Wait your fighting the dragon?"

"Yeah I fought one off and I was planning on not letting the second one kill me."

"There's two?"

"Long story. But what are you going to pick?"

"How about this you finish off the dragon and get back to me when you're done and I'll have my mind made up."

"That's assuming I don't die"

"Yeah."

Our Hero walked past Princes to the window which over looked where the dragon was still fighting the guards.

Our Hero ran back out the door and down the stairs and Princes pointed to the sky probably addressing the narrator saying "I don't know what I think about you yet"

Our Hero reached a door which lead to the top of the wall. When he walked out on to the wall he could see the guards laying on the ground motionless but no signs of the dragon.

It was when he turned around he noticed the dragon was aim directly toward him.

"Thanks for the heads up this time" Our Hero turned, looked and dogged the impending strike.

The dragon started to circle back around to have another chance at Our Hero.

"Why do I think if these things." Whispered Our Hero to himself as the dragon made a straight path to him. He backed up to the end of the wall. The dragon grew closer spitting fire into the area near Out Hero, He made a run up and leaped over the lip of the wall and onto the dragon as it flew by.

"This was a very bad idea!" He griped the dragon as hard he could trying not to fall off to what would be a certain doom. The dragon shook and dove but Our Hero held strong.

He tried to plunge his sword into the dragon but its skin was too thick. Our Hero really should have thought this through before he jumped on the dragon.

"Tel me something I don't know!" The wind rushing across his face forcing tears to come out of his eyes.

He climbed up toward the dragons head, his hands becoming weaker and weaker as he moved along.

The dragon tried vigorously swinging its neck trying to lose Our Hero. He sat at the brow of the dragons head and this time he aimed for its eye. His body was unsettled causing his first attempt to miss its target.

He eased his body and aimed again. He wouldn't miss the second time, the sword pierced the weak spot causing an almost immediate reaction for the dragon.

In agony the dragon lost control if it's flight and began spiraling out of control. Fire, ice, and even lightning came from the mouth of the dragon.

With a loud thud the dragon slammed into the spire. The sword slipped out of the eye and Our Hero lost his grip.

He began to free fall toward the ground looking up at the sky he could see the spire trembling and the dragon in agony falling toward the ground.

Then everything went black.

When he woke up he was on the wall, he could see part of the spire had collapsed. His ears rang and he lacked the energy to move.

After a few moments his companion and Princes stood over him. Her lips were moving but he couldn't understand what she was trying to say.

He just laid there not even making an attempt to respond or comprehend her.

She propped him up against the wall and Our Hero's companion jumped into his lap. The ringing began to dissipate and he could start to hear things again.

He couldn't tell he was yelling but he was. "What were you trying to say!?"

Princes smiled and looked at the ground. When she looked back up she repeated what she had said before "I'm going to go with you."

This kind of surprised Our Hero. "You're what?"

"Well. You came all this way and I've been stuck here for a while and I want to join you."

Our Hero exhaled before he responded. "Do you wish to know what I'm actually doing all the way out here?

"It has to be for a good reason and you said it wasn't me."

"Well you see I'm trying to reach the fourth wall."

She let out a laugh "You're doing what?"

"I'm trying to see what's on the other side of the fourth wall."

"You're insane no one sense the ancients has been past the fourth wall"

"No one till now."

Princes turned around and began walking toward an entrance to the interior of the wall. "Wait here I'll be back"

He leaned back into the wall and closed his eyes to rest.

When he woke up princes was standing in the door way with shimmering amour and battle gear.

Our Hero sat in silence stating at Princes.

She was first to speak. "Well our you going to just sit there and stare at me or our you going to join me."

Our Hero got up and walked toward the entrance where she was standing. When he brushed by he spoke to her "shouldn't I be asking you to join me?" Traces of charm were in his voice.

"So let me get this straight. You were just eating breakfast and this voice told you to go on a quest to the fourth wall and you did it?" Asked Princes. She was still confused about Our Hero's reasons for being out here and the concept of the narrator. "Oh yeah I almost forgot about you."

Our Hero chuckled "Yeah pretty much, you get use to the narrator after a while."

Princes looked back at our Hero. "But other than that why our you out here? Why did you come all this way, surely it must be more than just to go past the fourth wall."

"Well at first I didn't know what I was getting into, but I guess after a while I started to enjoy the adventure."he paused before he finished "Why did you join me when you didn't have to?"

"Being locked in that tower deprived me of the world. I've wanted to go and travel the world all my life and when you showed up and said you were going to travel even further I couldn't turn that down. Even what you said just now makes me feel better knowing that you enjoy adventuring."

"Why did you give me such a hard time then?"

"People usually wait for me to open the door before they break it down."

"Fair enough."

The two walked in silence after this.

"Wait wait" interrupted princes "I still haven't asked about what's at the fourth wall?"

There was a silence that no one broke for some time unlit Our Hero whispered in a low tone "I guess we'll have to wait and see."

Now the two walked along in silence. Seeing that they had nothing to add or do to interrupt the narrator or prolong the scene

Even though the group was still a ways away from the wall they could see it because of its sheer size. It truly was a sight to behold. Pieces of land were missing leaving holes in the terrain which looked like entrances to the void. Mountains in the distance looked like ghost and had a type of transparency to them.

Our Hero raised a question "w-why is the landscape like this?"

Out this far rifts are created in the land because when the world was made the writer added no land to those areas leaving what we know as rifts.

"So these rifts what were to happen if someone went into one"

They would turn into dust and vanish, where they go, no one knows.

"Defiantly something to stay away from."

The farther they went the more rifts there were and the larger they became. Looking off into the horizon there was nothing, all that was left was the area around the path and splotches of land nearby.

A stark expression grew In both of them as the environment became bleak.

Stood in the path were five men in robes. They said nothing nor did they move at all, they stood completely motionless in the middle of the narrow way.

Our Hero's companion started to growl at the men in robes.

Our Hero looked up and said "Any idea who they are or what they do? Instead of just saying they're there why not tell us what they're going to do." His voice was quite and light.

These are the ancients. They're here to stop anyone who tries to even approach the fourth wall.

"So were going to have to fight them is what you're saying."

Yes a fight seems imminent.

"Well what can they do?"

That's the thing, nobody noes.

"You mean to tell me not even you know what we're going up against?"

Yeah that's right. I never said I was all knowing.

"Great" Our Hero looked over toward Princes and his companion "any ideas?"

Princes was quick to retort "yeah not die.

Our Hero shot her a look "thanks that was real helpful." She smiled and looked away.

Our Hero stepped back and thought. After a moment his face lit up. "I got an idea, Narrator tell me I found a javelin or something along the side of the path."

Alright, Our Hero found a javelin on the side of the path and picked it up. He looked at the javelin and whispered "let's see how this works."

He made a run up then flung the javelin toward the ancients. It was well aimed and was heading directly toward the ancient in the center. But right before it reached its target the ancients body turned to smoke causing the Javelin to go right through.

Our Hero stood silence and stunned at what he had just witnessed.

Princes in awe shuttered "How are we supposed to do this if we can't hit them!?" If only they remembered theirs other ways they could go about this.

They both spoke in unison "the rifts!"

The group ran around one of the rifts near the path so they we're directly across from where they were.

The ancients began to walk directly toward them, slowly they came to the edge of the rift and walked into darkness.

Our Hero seemed stunned. "There's no way it's that easy." And it wasn't they reappeared directly in front of them "um didn't you say things disappeared into rifts?" They ran away as fast as they could trying to keep as much distance between them as possible.

"What are we supposed to do now!?" They were back in the path running toward the wall with the ancients in pursuit.

If only Our Hero remembered that there are other ways he could solve his problems.

"You mean like what I did with the javelin?"

Yes similar to what you did with the javelin, elaborate more on that idea.

"Uh the ancients disappeared leaving an easy trip for the group."

The ancients did not fade nor did they slow down. It would not be that simple.

Princes In an annoyed tone let out "what do you mean it's too simple!"

If Our Hero could remember the full situation he is in maybe he would understand what he could do.

He stopped his stride and faced the ancients.

"That's it, it's a story, his whole thing is a story, I have the ability to change the story the writer sets. And if the writer doesn't like it, then it won't happen." He went even further. "The writer wants a good story so things are created to make it interesting and if they ruin the story they our removed."

Princes ran back toward Our Hero screaming "would you do something instead of just standing there!"

Our Hero grinned in the face of the ancients, his companion stood by his side. He needled down to his companion and pet him.

"You want to learn a new trick Exen?"

Our Hero's companion wagged his tail enthusiastically and barked.

"Alright, how about this. Exen speak!"

When his companion barked a sonic wave came out. The force of the wave was so great the ancient it hit simply vanished not in to dust or smoke. It just vanished never to return again.

Our Hero laughed "It worked!"

Princes stood stunned but not silenced.

"You think I could try something like that?" They shot each other a smile and after a moment Our Hero apparently came up with something.

"Princes remembered her ability to...to...ummm" he didn't actually have an idea.

Princes has one though. "Princes remembered her knowledge of sorcery." Princes swung her sword causing a blast of fire to eject out and eliminate another ancient.

Our Hero just stood back and smiled. "Have fun with it." We're his only words.

Prince and Our Hero's companion tried different things to finish the ancients, Ice, fire, lighting, and other magical auras started to fly around.

As the last ancient vanished Our Hero trumped "What is this sorcery!"

The excitement was short lived though, when they reached the wall they discovered there were no gates on the wall.

Our Hero looked up and yelled "How am I supposed to get part this!" When would he figure out that to get past this wall he has to climb over it.

"You mean to tell me I have to scale this thing?"

Yeah that's right.

"It's a good thing I have supreme wall climbing skills." That was great and all but behind them lurked more ancients than they could count.

Princes turned around and shuttered "w-what?"

With their backs against the wall they were facing what seemed to be an endless amount of enemies.

With the ancients advancing forward they assumed their fighting stance.

Our Hero's companion sprinted forward creating a field around him some would call a super sayian.

"I have no idea what that is but it's really cool"

Don't worry Our Hero it's from another story.

"Oh I got you."

Our Hero's companion drove through ancient after ancient with no resistance.

Princes turned to Our Hero. "Go! We'll hold them off."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes! We'll be fine you have to get over the wall and you can't do it if they're chasing you."

Our Hero nodded and began to scale the wall. Princes returned to the fray swinging away causing a hailstorm of glyphs to rain down.

Our Hero looked down "I have no clue what any of that stuff is but it looks awesome!" Maybe one day he'll read some stories and find out. But for now he had to focus on climbing such a massive barrier. It's a good thing he remembered those wall climbing skills.

"I knew you'd like that."

The higher up he went the stronger the wind became and the harder it was to stay griped to the wall. His fingers clenched harder and harder even under strenuous fatigue, arm after arm lift after lift he rose higher up the wall and the combat below him was becoming vague.

"What's going on down there?" He looked down.

"Oh it's not a good idea to look down!" The hight he had climbed was impressive but there still was a ways to go.

He climbed for a few minutes and now he had reached the low hanging clouds. He couldn't see anything but the wall in front of him; The wind began to whistle in his ear; frost was biting the tip of his fingers, toes and noes.

Exhaustion had set in when he began to hear voices, at first it was unclear and vague what the voice was but it soon became clear what it was.

It was the wise old man trying to speak to Our Hero.

"Our Hero!" He said it in a ghostly manor.

"Why are you talking like a ghost?"

"To be spooky."

"Well it's not very spooky."

"You're not even going to question how I'm taking to you right now?"

"Not unless how you’re talking to me can help me get over this wall."

"No it can't, but I'm here to tell you something about how far you've come in your journey and how much of a better person you've become."

"There's no way that's what you wanted to say."

"Yeah I felt obligated to say that, what I really wanted to tell you was that you've made it further than any other adventurer before you."

"Even further than you?"

Yes even further than me. I did not have the strength or the courage to get past this point."

"Get to the point; what are you trying to tell me?"

"What in trying to say is you have to do what no one else before you could. No one has been able to get past the fourth wall and you’re so close to doing it."

"Why is it so important to get past the fourth wall? Why have so many people tried to do this?

Is what's beyond this wall really worth all of this trouble?"

"What lies beyond this wall is said to be able to change the world, it could be knowledge or a powerful tool but whatever it is will forever change the world we live in."

"That's not really convincing."

"Well it should be. How about this, once people know you've been beyond the fourth wall you will become unimaginably famous and wealthy. So much so people will sing songs of your story for generations."

"That's a little more convincing. I still don't fully understand everything but for some reason I feel it will be all worthwhile."

"It will be trust me."

And with that the voice in the wind died away and faded turning into a howl of the wind.

He could almost see the top of the wall from where he was.

His limbs felt like lead as he moved up the wall. The top of the wall came closer and closer with every reach being harder than the last.

"You know this would be a lot easier if you didn't make me so tired."

But where's the struggle if you could easily climb the wall.

"I didn't want a struggle I just wanted to get over the wall."

Well you're going to have to work for it.

"I've worked pretty hard; I don't need you making it any harder."

Well it's going to get harder; the last few meters of the wall were warped to form an overhang.

"Really!"

When he reached the warped part of the wall he couldn't hold his legs to the wall and began to dangle. High above the ground his feet hung in the air, his fingers were barely gripping to the surface.

He persevered though and continued to make progress. The top was so close he thought he could make it but he reached too far and slipped. He quickly swung for anything he could grab to save him, his fingers scraped the top but couldn't catch anything.

His fall stopped suddenly though and he was suspended in the air being held up by some mysterious force.

"Umm what is going on?"

It's the plot continuity. You weren't supposed to fall so it saved you.

"If I wasn't supposed to fall than why did I?"

The narrator may or may not have changed the story a little for entertainment reasons.

"You did what!"

Never mind what I did just get back on the wall.

"How?"

Just reach out your arm.

"Alright" Our Hero reached out his arm and floated back toward the wall. He regained his grip on the warped wall and finished the climb.

He pulled himself over the top of the wall and laid on the surface of the wall.

When he looked up he didn't see a vast landscape stretching to the horizon but instead he saw something else.

What he saw when he looked up appeared to be a great giant staining at him. He looked up and saw a giant block of text, it was backwards and he did his best to read it.

"What he saw when he looked up appeared to be a great giant staring at him. He looked up and saw a giant block of text, it was backwards and he did his best to read it. Um you have some explaining here to do."

......

"Um narrator please explain this to me."

.........

"You going to say something or am I jus-" Our Hero you don't know what you've just found.

"No I don't that is where you come in."

It's not a giant. It's the reader, they're reading your story right now.

"That's the reader?"

Yes can't you see what's above you is the text of the story.

"Woah woah woah then what's that all the way out there behind them?"

That's the readers imagination, that's what the reader thinks the world looks like.

"So who's that guy on the wall over there?"

That you, or at least what the reader thinks of you.

"Really?" Our Hero waved and the man in the other wall waves in sync with him.

Our Hero looked up at the reader. "So I can see the reader but can the reader see me?"

No the reader can't see you they can only see the you on the other side.

"What would happen if I tried this?" Our Hero began to run toward the edge if the wall but he ran into another invisible wall stopping him from going any farther and knocking him to the ground.

"What just happened?"

You hit the edge of the world. You can't go any farther because that's what separates our world from theirs.

"Their world? You mean the readers world?"

Yes the reader’s world.

He sat in silence looking up at the reader.

He broke the silence after a moment.

"So this is what's beyond the fourth wall."

So beyond the fourth wall is the reader.

"Yeah but why would they want to build a giant wall."

So no one would break the fourth wall.

"Why would they build a wall if the point of the wall is to not be broken? Why wouldn't they just not build the wall?"

No to protect the other fourth wall.

"What do you mean the other fourth wall? Aren't I on the fourth wall?"

Don't you understand the fourth wall you our standing on was built so no one would try to break the invisible fourth wall you ran into.

"So let me get this straight, they built a massive wall to protect an invisible one separating our world and the reader’s world."

That's correct.

"You said that they didn't want anyone to break the actual fourth wall?"

What are you trying to get at here?

"What I'm trying to get at here is I want to break the fourth wall"

Our Hero what do you not understand about you literally can't break that invisible wall.

"There has to be a way to break the fourth wall."

You physically can't tear down the fourth wall. The only way you can break the fourth wall is by acknowledging the reader and that you are just a character in the writer’s story.

"Wait"

Now do you see?

"If I'm a character of the writer......"

Yes go on

"That means, my thoughts are that of the writers?"

And

"What was that quote on the wall a ways back?"

Come on you can remember it.

"Great minds think a like? No no no."

Getting close.

"If I think there for I am!"

"I'm... I'm not just Our Hero"

Our Hero looked back up at the text above him.

"I'm the writer"

That is where the writer decided to end the story.

The end.

Writers Note: I would like to thank you the reader first of all I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I would also like to thank everyone who helped motivate me through the process of writing this story it meant a lot; your smiles and interest was real motivational for me to do the story the way it needed to be done.

Ill now move on to other things about the story. I got the idea for the story one night around 3AM and I knew I had something so I downloaded a writing app to my phone and wrote the first few paragraphs to the story. I wanted to kind of play a spoof on normal adventure tales but add an unusual element to the story.

If you have any feedback feel free to email me at [email protected].